A NIGHT WITH SMART GILAS

the team prayed after the game.

September 09, 2011, a date I will never forget. Finally I was able to watch live Smart Gilas Pilipinas team play. That was two months ago at San Juan Arena, I was able to cheer for our National Team's tune-up game versus the team of Jordan. I am lucky to see them play together for the last time because most of the players joined the PBA Draft and now playing really well on PBA. *no news yet if the program will continue and if the former players will still play and represent the country.  

Pilipinas succeded to win over Jordan. Final Score: 80-71. 

Sulit ang panunuod ng mga fans na nagpunta dahil nanalo ang Gilas at binigay ng parehong team ang best nila, di sila nagrelax lang. 

We also watched the game for FREE. Yes! No entrance fee paid. 

...now ill be just sharing photos of the players with me. 

Please bare with my low quality photos. I wasn't able to fully charge my camera so my battery emptied before the game started. too bad. After the game fans waited for the players to have a photo-opp and here's mine. :)

with Don Don Hontiveros

Don Don is really nice and casual. I remember he even told my friend "nanginginig ka" while she takes our photo. He is also a Gilas player however he didn't played for the FIBA ASIA. Sayang. He just supported the team.  I also was able to have an autograph of him. Watch him play for Petron Blaze no. 7. Chris Lutz is also playing really well on same team no.3.

Don Don Hontiveros' autograph.

This is my one and only autograph from the players. It is not because they wouldn't sign one but because I don't have a pen and a paper. My bad :( That autograph above, I just tore a paper on my friend's filler and borrowed pentel pen from a fan. Since my friend came from school that day, she has her school supplies and she is lucky to have autographs from all the players. envy me! 

...sharing of photos (in order)

with Marcus Douthit

He is a naturalized Filipino. He didn't join the PBA Draft together with Chris Tiu.

Gilas to Barako Bull watch Dylan Ababuo no. 33 plays

Jimmy Alapag

now on Talk n Text Tropang Texters, no. 3 

with Kelly Williams no. 21

Ranidel de Ocampo no. 33

Japeth Aguilar no. 35

with Mac Baracael

no. 10 of Alaska Aces

Andy Barroca

no.14 playing for B-meg Llamados

with JV Casio

Unfortunately, he didn't play during the tune-up game. He is the PBA Draft Rookie Pick. He is now on Powerade Tigers no. 42. Feel bad i wasn't able to have an autograph. 

with Jason Ballesteros

no. 18 of Meralco Bolts

with his team mate Asi Taulava no. 5 

Asi is really nice to the fans. After the game he came to the fans to say thank you for supporting the team, some fans asked for a photo-opp, autograph, shake hands at hindi niya ito binigo. He even threw baller to the audience and the guy beside me caught it. 

with Marcio Lassiter

also a Tiger of Powerade no.13. 

with Charles Tiu

He is one of the coaches of Smart Gilas Pilipinas. Now he is also an assistant coach for Powerade. Charles is making his own name in Basketball. A younger brother of Chris Tiu. 

with Chris Tiu

He is one of those players I really look up to. Why? Read this Ten Things You Should Know about Chris Tiu 

I wasnt able to have pictures with the other players. Check http://www.pba.ph/home here you will know more about PBA teams and the players. 

Read Related Post: I Salute Smart Gilas Pilipinas

I SALUTE SMART GILAS PILIPINAS

After two and half decades, the Philippines reached to the semifinals of FIBA Asia. During the tournament Smart Gilas Pilipinas lost only one game against China on the first round and lost against Jordan on the semis. The last hope was for them to win the bronze medal against the Team of Korea.

It was a good start for our team. I even thought they will win the the third place. Here are their missed opportunities: low field goals percent of Korea, 14 point lead, 6 point lead within the last 5 mins, free throws of Williams, rebound and free throws of Lassiter. Korea succeeded to win the 4th quarter by a 2 point lead (Final score 68-70). And we lost for the third time against Korea. It was a heart breaking lost!

MY REAL EMOTIONS:

Sayang talaga! Naiyak ako sa pagkatalo ng Pilipinas dahil simula pa lang ng laban ay pinakita na ng Gilas na maipapanalo nila ang laro at maiiuwi ang Bronze Medal sa bansa. On the few seconds remaining my mom and I really cheered for our team. Pinagdasal namin na lahat ng free throws ay mashoot ng Pilipinas pati narin ang last 3 points shot ni JV Casio, yun nga lang di pumasok. At nakakapanghina na pati si Casio ay nghinayang sa tira na yun at napaiyak na lang siya.

"DEFEAT IS NOT THE WORST OF FAILURES. NOT TO HAVE TRIED IS THE TRUE FAILURE."

Nevertheless finishing 4th place in Fiba Asia is not easy and bad. The last time our country made it this far was in 1987.

On the brighter side, nobody expected Philippines to go this far. Hands down to the team for making it to the FINAL FOUR! I'm sure that all the teams who played against Gilas have a great RESPECT on the team. And I wish that ALL FILIPINOS will show the same. Those men showed that they can fight on the big teams in Asia. THROUGH SMART GILAS TEAM PILIPINAS we were able to be recognized once again in the map of world class basketball. 

I want to thank all Smart Gilas Pilipinas Players Team Captain Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Andy Barroca, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Asi Taulava, Mac Baracael, Japeth Aguilar and Marcus Douthit FOR ALL THE HARD WORK, FOR THE HEART, FOR MAKING OUR COUNTRY PROUD! 

Also want to express thanks to Coach Rajko Toroman and all the assistant coaches Jude Roque, Chot Reyes, Charles Tiu and Ryan Gregorio.

#thankyouGILASPILIPINAS did trend.
All Filipino fans tweeted encouraging msg and support on our National Team.

MABUHAY PILIPINAS!

PROUD TO BE PINOY!

FOR ALL YOUR ENDEAVOR I SALUTE SMART GILAS TEAM PILIPINAS! 

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Here are the Highlights of the Game: 

- Philippines finished 4th place in the FIBA Asia Championship
- Marcus Douthit with 27 points and 22 rebounds
- Philippines missed 4 Free Throws at the end of the game; 2 by Williams, 1 by Douthit and 1 by Lassiter
- Jimmy Alapag 5/7 from three point range with 17 points
- Only 10 assist for Philippines and 13 turnovers that resulted to 13 points by Korea
- 3 point field goal percentage (35%) is higher than 2 point field goal percentage (33%)
- Kelly Williams with 9 points and 11 boards but missed 2 key free throws
- Marcio Lassiter with just 1 point but grabbed 9 rebounds
- Both teams with a low Free Throw Percentage, PHI (59%) and KOR (61%) but Korea made their free throws in the end game
- Biggest lead of Philippines was 13 points
- Chris Tiu and Chris Lutz fouled out of the ballgame
- Japeth Aguilar did not play this game

Game Scores:
Philippines 68 – Douthit 27, Alapag 17, Williams 9, Lutz 5, de Ocampo 3, Tiu 2, Casio 2, Baracael 2, Lassiter 1, Taulava 0, Barroca 0

Quarters: 14-7, 24-17, 47-36, 68-70

Source: Philippines finished 4th Place in Fiba Asia

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Smart Gilas Pilipinas International and Local Tournaments Recap

2009-2011 Smart Gilas Win-Loss Record

Overall Standing in 3 years: 47 wins, 32 losses
(Based on Major Tournaments only, not including Exhibition Games)

Note:
-Highest place finish in an International Tournament was 3rd place in 2011 Jones Cup (SEABA not included)
-Big leap in win-loss record from 2010 to 2011

2011 (28 wins, 13 losses)
-FIBA Asia Championship – 4th Place (6-3)
-Jones Cup – 3rd Place (6-3)
-SEABA Championship – 1st Place (3-0)
-FIBA Asia Champions Cup – 4th Place (5-2)
-PBA Commissioners Cup – 3rd Place (8-5)

2010 (14 wins, 17 losses)
-Asian Games – 6th Place (6-5)
-Jones Cup – 4th Place (3-3)
-FIBA Asia Champions Cup – 7th Place (2-5)
-FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup – 4th Place (3-4)

2009 (5 wins, 2 losses)
-FIBA Asia Champions Cup – 5th Place (5-2)

Source: Smart Gilas Win-Loss Record since 2009-2011